CRS: Administrative Issues Related to a Change in Majority in the House of Representatives, November 20, 2006

From WikiLeaks

The CRS is a Congressional "think tank" with a staff of around 700. Reports are commissioned by members of Congress on topics relevant to current political events. Despite CRS costs to the tax payer of over $100M a year, its electronic archives are, as a matter of policy, not made available to the public.

Individual members of Congress will release specific CRS reports if they believe it to assist them politically, but CRS archives as a whole are firewalled from public access.

This report was obtained by Wikileaks staff from CRS computers accessible only from Congressional offices.

This report provides discussion and analysis of some of the immediate areas that a new incoming majority would likely need to consider as it prepares to assume responsibility for the administration of the House. These issues include (1) amendment and adoption of House Rules; (2) election of House officers; (3) administration of committee organization and funding; (4) establishment of House-wide staffing levels; and (5) publication of the Members' Representational Allowance. All these issues are based on various party, legislative, and administrative decisions taken with majority involvement. These decisions may be made at various times from the first meetings on early organization of the chamber soon after the general election through the first several weeks of a new Congress. In addition to the concerns typical of any transition to a new Congress, the incoming leadership of the 110th Congress will likely also consider additional administrative issues related to the appointment of a new Architect of the Capitol, and the completion of the Capitol Visitor Center.